25/03 Captain’s Log
March 24, 2010
Captain’s log star date 25 – 03 – 2010 …right Bill Shatner impression out of the way. Well to begin with I’d like to say a big hello and thank you to all our diehard fans who support us week in week out, in this instalment of my regular column I hope to give you a player’s view of current events and rugby in Newbury, both on and off the pitch.
Firstly to Manchester, then. Well, what a great bunch of guys with a true spirit of rugby. Each Saturday they take to the field hoping to secure their first win of the season and from experience I can tell you they keep fighting to the final whistle. From our point of view it was a great chance to play some open rugby with Mitch Burton leading from the front, the backs seeming to be able to score from almost anywhere with some great running lines and well-executed plays. The forwards, as always, were dominant in both scrum and lineout providing clean ball all afternoon. A few “bigger” boys even had a few trundles.
From the fast-flowing rugby against Manchester to the war of attrition against Cinderford in the Forest of Dean. A battle from start to finish with casualties on both sides! From the start, Cinderford set their stall out early with hard rucking, solid tackling and the insertion of many fingers in many different orifices! We had a great opening 30 minutes, sticking to our game plan securing both territory and possession.
With Cinderford’s “off the ball activity” finally becoming too much for Chris “Alfred” Rowland, upon seeing his opposite number Andy Deacon’s finger lodged in my eye (I can only assume he left his wedding ring in there in a previous gouge!) Chris took it upon himself to have a quiet word with his oppo, resulting in six stitches for Deacon and a red card and a red face for Rowland’s act of heroism. Unfortunately that changed the game for us and things took a turn for the worst, although from this we can take heart from the performances of some of the squad’s younger contingent who definitely stood up to be counted.
Off the field, some of the other 1st XV boys and I have enjoyed some excellent nights at the club. Recently, at the race night and St Patrick’s night, some of you may have noticed the two gorgeous ladies, horse, jockey and accompanying toffs! Both excellent evenings enjoyed by all (some more than others Mr Rowland.)
It was great to see so many people giving back to their club and thanks must go to the volunteers who organised these events, too numerous to mention all their names.
So to Saturday’s opponents Redruth, a good, hard Cornish team with whom I’ve had some battles over the years enjoying some excellent hospitality in hell fire corner! It will be a hard game with a good battle between the forwards, judging by our last encounter.
Thank you for reading and have a great day. Mine’s a pint of good old boy if you see me!
Come on you Blues!
Craig McGrath
Comments
Got something to say?